Cataumet, Massachusetts

In 1893, Thomas Baxendale and Ester Minerva conceived and built a private sanctuary on Amrita Island.  A stone bridge connects the mainland to an idyllic world anchored by a mansion and two guesthouses:  Stonehenge and Sorrento.  Since 1960, the pair of guesthouses has been owned by a family who carefully restored and updated the Arts and Crafts Style building.  The current project will connect the landscape to the house and shape outdoor rooms while negotiating history and the lifestyle of an active multi-generational family.  

with David R. Maclean Architects

Water Mill, New York

A long three acre site, situated on a tributary creek of Mecox Bay, features a unique collection of topiary yews, two pavilions by Late-Modernist architect Andrew Geller and thousands of Japanese iris protected by convenants.   The new house captures the site by extending out as landscape deck, framing a central play lawn and connecting the Geller structures with the yew garden.  Along the creek, once degraded habitat was restored with native meadow grasses, forbs and red maple trees.  The design unites the whimsical, habitable and ecoplogical to create a landscape for living.  Completed as dL studio with Soren deNiord. Photography by Soren deNiord.

with Bates Masi Architects  

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

TLS was engaged by the clients for further work after completing the landscape design for a contemporary house overlooking Quissett Harbor, while at Stephen Stimson Associates.

In 2014, a rain garden was created to manage and cleanse runoff and protect the water quality of the harbor. Planted with native species, the garden provides food and habitat for wildlife.

In 2015, a small knoll overlooking the harbor presented an opportunity to create a place for quiet and solitude.  An existing glacial boulder inspired the idea to create a bench to capture the views.  The bench is crafted from precast concrete and set to "float" against the boulder.  Smooth, planar, and light, the bench plays off the irregular, rough and weighted character of the stone.  

with Derek Oliver - Works In Concrete

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

TLS completed the renovation of a pool and backyard for a young and active family.  The design activates the yard by improving connections and orchestrating a sequence of places and paths around the new swimming pool.  A grove of red cedars were integrated into a wood deck, creating a shady area adjacent to the pool terrace.  A low fieldstone wall, granite steps and row of sweetbay magnolias defines the pool garden and leads to the children's play area.  

North Falmouth, Massachusetts

The North Branch of the Falmouth Public Library is a beloved institution in the heart of the village.  In spite of its small size, the library is heavily used and over crowded.  With space at a premium, the idea emerged to create an outdoor reading garden.  The design is an economical composition of stabilized gravel terrace, timber edging and rows of winterberry shrubs referencing the bookstacks.  The space is intended to be temporary while a new structure is being planned.

Short Hills, New Jersey

A new Arts and Science Center for a progressive independent school features a lawn courtyard and rain gardens to connect the campus to an existing teaching wetland.  Between existing buildings a series of pathways ramble through native shade trees, understory shrubs and groundcovers to reinforce the ecological continuity of the woodland campus.  Existing concrete paths were saw cut  and reused as linear pavers.  Large trees that were removed for the new buildings were milled on site to create benches.   

with Centerbrook Architects and Planners

Harwich, Massachusetts

Concealed by a dense canopy of oaks and pines, the site's terrain dips and rises from Route 28A to the ocean.  From the busy road, one enters a hidden world to discover a vernal pool flourishing in a glacial kettle hole, and a grassy knoll overlooking Pleasant Bay.  The varied topography creates conditions of high & dry, low & wet, open & sunny, and sheltered & shady.  The project seeks to preserve and accentuate the rich and diverse habitat, integrate a new dwelling and edit out invasive species that are eroding the clarity and character of the native landscape.

with H. P. Rovenelli Architects

Milton, Massachusetts

A historic mansion built in the late 1800's will be renovated and updated for a family with a love of the outdoors.  The landscape design focuses on their active lifestyle by engaging the 4 acre site and surrounding conservation lands.  Progam elements include an infinity edge swimming pool, play lawn and walking and excercise trails that connect to the conservation lands.

with Hutker Architects

Brookline, Massachusetts

with Hart Associates Architects

Falmouth, Massachusetts

A vegetable garden has become one of the cornerstone activities for the members of Fairwinds, an orgnization devoted to aiding the mentally challenged to lead responsible and productive lives.  The goal is to transform a underutilized space into a garden that conveys order, dignity and purpose.  Simple durable and economical improvements are employed to define the cultivation area from the parking lot and create a working environment of raised planters, greenhouses and social areas.

Washington D. C.

Since 2013, TLS has been working with Bernstein Management Corporation to redesign and renovate the landscapes for a number of residential properties in Washington D. C.   The projects vary in scales and settings, ranging from campus type sites to urban courtyards, plazas and streetscape.  New designs focus on enhancing identity, social and recreational opportunities and sustainability.  

Falmouth, Massachusetts

TLS was engaged by the Falmouth Housing Corporation to provide site planning concepts for a wooded seven acres site.  The site analysis identified natural resources, physical characteristics and development opportunities.  Two schemes were developed to study development capacity and maximize the preservation of existing woodland and wetland.  The work was done as pro-bono services.  

Locust Valley, New York

A clearing in the wooded site is the setting for a house composed of four interconnected pavilions, each with a sculpted roof to capture light and air into interior courtyards.   Responding to the interplay of pavilions, the landscape design utilizes different types of planted forms: geometric bosques, random groves, repetitive rows, singular specimens and hedge wall, to delineate arrival, integrate parking/service and define outdoor rooms.  The interior courtyards emphasize intimacy with a simple palette of cut stone and moss and small distinct trees.  

with Bates Masi Architects

with Z+T Studio

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

with Keenan+Kenny Architects

Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard

with Keenan+Kenny Architects